Mar-jar card game

ABSTRACT

A mar-jar card game includes the steps of providing a Banker and multiple Players; providing a deck of cards each having an assigned value; dealing two cards from the deck of cards to Banker and each Player in sequence that the cards form a paired hand or a non-paired hand; comparing a hand strength of the Banker with each Player, wherein the hand strength of the paired hand is stronger than the hand strength of the non-paired hand, wherein the hand strength of the non-paired hand is determined by counting point values of the Banker and Players that the assigned values of the two cards of each of the Banker and the Players are summed up; determining by the Banker and each of the Players whether a third card is desired; and declaring by the Banker one or more winners.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a card game, and more particularly to amar-jar card game, which allows multiple players playing with one bankerby using one or more decks of playing card.

2. Description of Related Arts

There are many card games are available. Baccarat game is one of themost popular games. Accordingly, in Baccarat, each of the cards isassigned to have its own value that cards 2 to 9 are worth their facevalues, cards 10 and face cards (Jack, Queen, King) are worth zeropoint, and cards Ace are worth 1 point. Two cards are dealt by acroupier to one Banker and one Player. Each of the Banker and playerdetermines the total points by adding the values of the cards modulo 10.The highest point that the player can get is 9 and the lowest point thatthe player can get is 0. By the rules of Baccarat, each of the Bankerand Player is able to draw a third card. Comparing the values of theBanker and Player, the croupier will announce the winning hand betweenthe Banker and Player. The major drawback of Baccarat game is there areonly one Banker and one Player in a game. All participants can onlyplace the bet at either the Banker or Player.

Blackjack card game is a well-known card game that is very popular andavailable in every casino, where players are dealt a number of cards andhave an option of receiving additional cards. The objective of Blackjackis to score a point value of twenty-one without going over this limit.However, Blackjack card game is too complex to play, especially for abeginner or an unskilled player, because the player must be good at cardcounting to calculate the probability of advantages based on the ratioof high cards to low cards. In addition, when the point values of thecards go over 21, the player definitely loses the round of game.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a mar-jar cardgame, which allows multiple players playing with one banker by using oneor more decks of playing card.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mar-jar cardgame which is easy to play, simple, fair, and full of fun.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mar-jar cardgame, wherein the player is able to get a paired hand of cards or anon-paired hand of cards. Therefore, the players do not have to do cardcounting every time when they receive two cards.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mar-jar cardgame, wherein the picture cards of KING, QUEEN, and JACK cards areassigned with values of zero point for the non-paired hand. However, apair of KING cards as the paired-hand has the highest ranking among thehand strength of the cards. Therefore, the player always has a chance toform a paired hand when the first card is a picture card.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mar-jar cardgame, wherein each player is able to place a bonus bet for thepaired-hand to have a chance to win the bonus pay.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mar-jar cardgame, wherein a maximum of eight participants, including one Banker andseven Players, can be participated to start the card game. Therefore,each of the participants is able to receive two cards in hand in eachround to play the card game.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mar-jar cardgame, wherein no expensive tool or complicated rule is required toemploy in the present invention in order to achieve the above mentionedobjects. Therefore, the present invention successfully provides aneconomic and exciting game for allowing multiple players with cards inhand to play the game and for providing simplicity of card countingprocess to enhance the excitement of the card game.

Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the presentinvention provides a mar-jar card game, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing two or more participants to start a round of the cardgame;

(b) providing at least a deck of cards, wherein the deck of cardsincludes a set of numbered cards from two to nine with assigned valuesfrom two to nine points respectively, a set of numbered cards of tenwith assigned values of ½ point, a set of ACE cards with assigned valuesof 1 point, a set of picture cards of KING, QUEEN, and JACK cards withassigned values of zero point;

(c) shuffling the deck of cards by one of the participants who serves asa Banker, wherein the rest of the participants serve as Playersrespectively;

(d) dealing two cards from the deck of cards to Banker and each of thePlayers in sequence, wherein the two cards form a paired hand or anon-paired hand;

(e) comparing a hand strength of the Banker with each of the Players,wherein the hand strength of the paired hand is stronger than the handstrength of the non-paired hand, wherein the hand strength of thenon-paired hand is determined by counting point values of the Banker andPlayers that the assigned values of the two cards of each of the Bankerand the Players are summed up;

(f) determining by the Banker and each of the Players whether a thirdcard is desired, wherein when the third card is dealt, counting thepoint value by adding the assigned value of three cards; and

(g) declaring by the Banker one or more winners whose have a strongerhand strength of paired hand or the point value of the cards of each ofthe Players is larger than the point value of the cards of the Banker.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed description,the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating the method of playing a mar-jar cardgame according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a table for playing the mar-jar card game accordingto the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIG. 1, a mar-jar card game according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the mar-jarcard game comprises the following steps.

(1) Provide two or more participants to start a round of the card game.Preferably, the mar-jar game is played at a table 10 that theparticipants sit around the table 10.

(2) Provide at least a deck of cards. The game is played with a standarddeck of 52 cards having four suits of each of an ace, 2-10 cards, aJack, a Queen and a King. In other words, the deck of cards includes aset of numbered cards from two to nine with assigned values from two tonine points respectively, a set of numbered cards of ten with assignedvalues of ½ point, a set of ACE cards with assigned values of 1 point,and a set of picture cards of KING, QUEEN, and JACK cards with assignedvalues of zero point. That is, the card Ace represents one point, andthe cards 2 to 9 represent 2 to 9 point. Card 10 represents ½ point, andthe picture cards J, Q, K represent 0 point.

According to the preferred embodiment, the deck of cards is atraditional deck of cards including fifty-two playing cards. It isappreciated that other game pieces can be a placement of the deck ofcards to play the card game of the present invention once the gamepieces are assigned with numerical values.

Accordingly, the numbered card 10 is always considered as same as thepicture card to have a value of zero point for the conventional cardgame. However, the numbered card 10 is assigned to have a value of ½point according to the mar-jar card game of the present invention.Therefore, there is always a chance for the participant to win the cardgame by ½ point. In addition, the participant will have less chance toget zero point by assigning the numbered card 10 to have a value of ½point.

It is appreciated that two or more decks of cards can be used to play tomar-jar card game. In addition, the suits of the cards, i.e. diamonds,spades, hearts, and clubs, are a non-factor of the card game. In otherwords, the value of a diamond 5 equals to the value of heart 5.

(3) Shuffle the deck of cards by one of the participants who serves as aBanker, wherein the rest of the participants serve as Playersrespectively. Accordingly, a maximum of eight participants, includingone Banker and seven Players, can be participated to start the cardgame.

(4) Deal two cards from the deck of cards to Banker and each of thePlayers in sequence.

Accordingly, the two cards are dealt one at a time to each of theparticipants until each of the participants receives two cards.According to the preferred embodiment, the Banker receives two cardsthat one of the cards is dealt in a face up manner while another card isdealt in a face down manner. Each of said Players receives two cardsbeing dealt in face up manner. In other words, two cards, which arefacing up, are dealt to each of the Players.

In addition, the two cards in each hand of the Banker and Players form apaired hand or a non-paired hand. The paired hand is that the two cardsare identical. In other words, a pair is defined as the original twocards. Getting the identical same two cards is called a pair. Forexample, the original two cards are a spade 5 and a diamond 5, we callit a pair of 5.

The non-paired hand is that the two cards are not identical. Forexample, a diamond 5 and a diamond Jack are called a non-paired hand.

According to the preferred embodiment, when the first card of Queen isdealt to the Player, the initial point value of the first card is zero.However, the Player can always have a chance to receive higher valuedcards, such as 7, 8, or 9, when the second card is dealt to form anon-paired hand. In addition, the Player may have a chance to receive asecond card of Queen to form a paired hand of Q, so as to enhance theexcitement of the mar-jar card game.

(5) Compare a hand strength of the Banker with each of the Players.

According to the preferred embodiment, the hand strength of the pairedhand is stronger than the hand strength of the non-paired hand. Forexample, a paired hand with a spade 5 card and a diamond 5 wins anon-paired hand with a diamond 5 and a diamond Jack.

For the comparison among the paired hand, the hand strength of thepaired hand has a ranking sequence of KING, QUEEN, JACK, 10 to 2, andAce consequently. Therefore, a pair of King is the highest rank in thisgame. The next is a pair of Queen. The next is a pair of Jack. The nextis a pair of 10. The next is a pair of 9. The next is a pair of 8, andthe next is a pair of 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and Ace. In other words, a pairof KING cards has the highest ranking while a pair of Ace cards has thelowest ranking.

The hand strength of the non-paired hand is determined by counting pointvalues of the Banker and Players that the assigned values of the twocards of each of the Banker and the Players are summed up. The Bankerand Players calculate their point values by taking the sum of two cardsmodulo 10, meaning that after adding the value of the cards, the tensdigit is ignored. For example, a hand consisting of 1 and 3 is worth 4(1+3=4). A hand consisting of 6 and 8 is worth 4 (6+8=14=4), i.e. thefirst digit of dropped because the total point value is higher than 10.A hand consisting of 6 and 4 is worth zero (6+4=10=0). A hand consistingof 9 and Queen is worth 9 (9+0=9). A hand consisting of 8 and 10 isworth 8½ (8+½=8½).

Accordingly, the highest ranking of the non-paired hand is 9½ and thelowest ranking of the non-paired hand is 0.

(6) Determine whether a third card is desired, wherein when the thirdcard is dealt, counting the point value by adding the assigned value ofthree cards.

According to the preferred embodiment, the third card is dealt when oneof the two cards is a picture-card, i.e. King, Queen, and Jack. If oneof the two cards is not the picture card, the third card cannot bedealt. Accordingly, the third card is determined by the Banker and eachof the Players such that the by the Banker and each of the Players canchoose whether he or she needs the third card. In addition, it is easilyfor the Banker and each of the Players to obtain the third card when heor she sees the picture card in hand. Therefore, no computation of twooriginal cards is required to check whether the third card is desired.Preferably, the third card is dealt in a face up manner.

In addition, the third card is prohibited to form the paired hand whenthe third card is dealt, such that the third card is formed saidnon-paired hand only.

For example, if a hand consists of a 5 and a J, the point value would becounted as 5 point. According to the rule, you have the right to hit thethird card because you have the picture card (Jack). If the third cardis a 5, the hand consisting of 5, J, and 5 is worth 0 (5+0+5=10=0).Therefore, the point value of the hand is 0, and it cannot call the handof a pair of 5 because the third card is dealt. In the same situation,if you get a 5 and a J, you have the right to ask for hit the thirdcard. If you hit a J, then it is still 5 point. It is because the thirdcard J is treated as 0 point in this case, and it cannot be treated as apair of J.

It is worth mentioning that the third card is optional that the Bankerand Player can refuse to hit the third card. For example, a handconsisting of 9 and K is worth 9. The Banker/Player is able to receivethe third card because of the picture card. However, the point value ofthe hand will be changed by summing up all the three cards. Therefore,there is a risk for the Banker/Player to receive the third card. Inaddition, even through the third card may be a K card, the third cardcannot be paired with the two original cards to form a pair of K byrule. In this case, the Banker/Player may refuse to receive the thirdcard.

(7) Declare by the Banker one or more winners whose have a stronger handstrength of paired hand or the point value of the cards of each of thePlayers is larger than the point value of the cards of the Banker.

Accordingly, it should be a tie game when the point value of the cardsof the Player equals to the point value of the cards of the Banker. Inone case, if the Banker has 0 point and the Player has 0 point, theBanker wins.

According to the preferred embodiment, the winner is between the Bankerand each of the Players. In other words, the mar-jar card game is thateach Player plays against the Banker. Therefore, some of the Players maylose and some of the Players may win. For example, the Banker consistingof 3 and 5 is worth 8. The first player consisting of a pair of 3 formsa paired hand of 3. The second player consisting of 7, J, and K is worth7. Therefore, the first player wins the hand from the Banker while thesecond player loses the hand from the Banker. It is worth mentioningthat Banker wins the round of card game from the Player when the pointvalue of the Banker and the Player is 0. Otherwise, it is a tie gamewhen the hand strength of Banker equals to the hand strength of Player.For example, if the Banker has 0 point and the Player has 0 point, theBanker wins. If the Banker has a paired hand of 7 and the Player alsohas a paired hand of 7, it is a tie game.

To play the mar-jar card game as one of the casino card game, wagers areplaced before the cards are dealt.

According to the preferred embodiment, before the step (4), the mar-jarcard game further comprises a step of placing a required wager by eachof the Players before the cards are dealt. If the Player wins, thewinner (Player) collects at least a portion of the wager from theBanker. If the Banker wins, the winner (Banker) will collect the wagerfrom the Player.

In order to enhance the excitement of the mar-jar card game, before thestep (4), the present invention further comprises a step of placing abonus bet by each of the Players before the cards are dealt, whereineach of said Players collects a bonus pay from the Banker when thePlayer has the paired hand. Preferably, a ratio of the bonus bet and thebonus pay is 1:10.

Accordingly, the Player will collect the bonus pay when the Player hasthe paired hand even though the Player loses the round of card game. Forexample, the Player places $40 of wager and $5 of bonus bet, wherein thePlayer then receives two cards of 5 such that the Player has a handconsisting of 5 and 5 to form a paired hand of 5. The Banker has a handconsisting of Q and Q to form a paired hand of Q. Since the paired handof Q has a higher ranking than the paired hand of 5, the Banker winsthis round of card game and collects the $40 of wager from the Player.Since the Player places $5 of bonus bet and obtains the paired hand, theBanker will pay $50 ($5×10=$50) to the Player.

As shown in FIG. 2, the table 10 is designed for fitting seven Players,Players 1 to 7, sitting side by side and the Banker sits at the oppositeside of the table 10. In particularly, the table 10 has seven playersections 11 and one banker section 12. The table 10 further has two cardareas 13 provided at each of the player sections 11 and the bankersection 12 for the two original cards being dealt at the card areas 13respectively. The table 10 further has a wager spot 14 and a bonus spot15 at each of the player sections 11 for the Player to place the wagerand bonus bet at the wager spot 14 and the bonus spot 15 respectively.Therefore, each Player has one wager bet, and one bonus bet. Player canchoose bet bonus bet or not.

Accordingly, the card game of the present invention can also be embodiedas an electronic card game, wherein, in the step (2), the deck of cardsis configured in an electronic form. The card game can be played by agame stimulator which comprises a processor for operating the card game,in responsive to the rules of the card game, including shuffling thecards, dealing the cards to the Banker and Players, determining the handstrength of the Banker and Players, and declaring the winner(s) of theround of the game. The game stimulator further comprises an inputdevice, preferably a keyboard, for the participants to select theoptions of the card game, such as starting a new game or acquiring thethird card, and a display for electronically displaying the cardsthereon. In other words, the game simulator can be a hand-held devicefor the participants to play the card game of the present invention. Itis appreciated that the card game can be a computer card game or anonline card game that the participants can play the card game of thepresent invention through the computer and/or Internet such that all theparticipants around the world can play together.

One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of thepresent invention as shown in the drawings and described above isexemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have beenfully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown anddescribed for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structuralprinciples of the present invention and is subject to change withoutdeparture from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes allmodifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the followingclaims.

1. A method of playing a card game, comprising the steps of: (a)providing two or more participants to start a round of said card game;(b) providing at least a deck of cards, wherein said deck of cardsincludes a set of numbered cards from two to nine with assigned valuesfrom two to nine points respectively, a set of numbered cards of tenwith assigned values of ½ point, a set of ACE cards with assigned valuesof 1 point, and a set of picture cards of KING, QUEEN, and JACK cardswith assigned values of zero point; (c) shuffling said deck of cards byone of said participants who serves as a Banker, wherein the rest ofsaid participants serves as Players respectively; (d) dealing two cardsfrom said deck of cards to Banker and each of said Players in sequence,wherein said two cards form a paired hand or a non-paired hand; (e)comparing a hand strength of said Banker with each of said Players,wherein said hand strength of said paired hand is stronger than saidhand strength of said non-paired hand, wherein said hand strength ofsaid non-paired hand is determined by counting point values of saidBanker and Players that said assigned values of said two cards of eachof said Banker and said Players are summed up; (f) determining by saidBanker and each of said Players whether a third card is desired, whereinwhen said third card is dealt, counting said point value by adding saidassigned value of three cards; and (g) declaring by said Banker one ormore winners whose have a stronger hand strength of paired hand or saidpoint value of said cards of each of said Players is larger than saidpoint value of said cards of said Banker.
 2. The method as recited inclaim 1 wherein, in the step (e), for said paired hand, said handstrength of said paired hand has a ranking sequence of KING, QUEEN,JACK, 10 to 2, and Ace consequently, such that a pair of KING cards hasthe highest ranking while a pair of Ace cards has the lowest ranking. 3.The method as recited in claim 1 wherein, in the step (e), said pointvalues of each of said non-paired hands must subtract from 10 if saidpoint values are equal to or larger than
 10. 4. The method as recited inclaim 2 wherein, in the step (e), said point values of each of saidnon-paired hands must subtract from 10 if said point values are equal toor larger than
 10. 5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein, in thestep (d), said third card is dealt when one of said two cards is apicture card, wherein said third card is prohibited to form said pairedhand when said third card is dealt, such that said third card is formedsaid non-paired hand only.
 6. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein,in the step (d), said third card is dealt when one of said two cards isa picture card, wherein said third card is prohibited to form saidpaired hand when said third card is dealt, such that said third card isformed said non-paired hand only.
 7. The method as recited in claim 4wherein, in the step (d), said third card is dealt when one of said twocards is a picture card, wherein said third card is prohibited to formsaid paired hand when said third card is dealt, such that said thirdcard is formed said non-paired hand only.
 8. The method as recited inclaim 1 wherein, in the step (g), it is a tie game when said handstrength of Banker equals to said hand strength of said Player, whereinsaid Banker wins said round of card game from said Player when saidpoint values of said Banker and said Player are zero.
 9. The method asrecited in claim 4 wherein, in the step (g), it is a tie game when saidhand strength of Banker equals to said hand strength of said Player,wherein said Banker wins said round of card game from said Player whensaid point values of said Banker and said Player are zero.
 10. Themethod as recited in claim 7 wherein, in the step (g), it is a tie gamewhen said hand strength of Banker equals to said hand strength of saidPlayer, wherein said Banker wins said round of card game from saidPlayer when said point values of said Banker and said Player are zero.11. The method as recited in claim 4, before the step (d), furthercomprising a step of placing a required wager by each of said Playersbefore said cards are dealt, wherein each of said winners collects atleast a portion of said wager from said Banker.
 12. The method asrecited in claim 10, before the step (d), further comprising a step ofplacing a required wager by each of said Players before said cards aredealt, wherein each of said winners collects at least a portion of saidwager from said Banker.
 13. The method as recited in claim 11, beforethe step (d), further comprising a step of placing a bonus bet by eachof said Players before said cards are dealt, wherein each of saidPlayers collects a bonus pay from said Banker when said Player has saidpaired hand.
 14. The method as recited in claim 12, before the step (d),further comprising a step of placing a bonus bet by each of said Playersbefore said cards are dealt, wherein each of said Players collects abonus pay from said Banker when said Player has said paired hand. 15.The method as recited in claim 13, before the step (d), furthercomprising a step of placing a bonus bet by each of said Players beforesaid cards are dealt, wherein each of said Players collects a bonus payfrom said Banker when said Player has said paired hand.
 16. The method,as recited in claim 15, wherein a ratio of said bonus bet and said bonuspay is 1:10.
 17. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein a maximum ofeight participants, including one Banker and seven Players, areparticipated to start said round of card game.
 18. The method, asrecited in claim 15, wherein a maximum of eight participants, includingone Banker and seven Players, are participated to start said round ofcard game.
 19. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein, in the step(d), said two cards are dealt one at a time to each of said participantsuntil each of said participants receives two cards, wherein said Bankerreceives two cards that one of said cards is dealt in a face up mannerwhile another said card is dealt in a face down manner, wherein each ofsaid Players receives two cards being dealt in face up manner.
 20. Themethod as recited in claim 16 wherein, in the step (d), said two cardsare dealt one at a time to each of said participants until each of saidparticipants receives two cards, wherein said Banker receives two cardsthat one of said cards is dealt in a face up manner while another saidcard is dealt in a face down manner, wherein each of said Playersreceives two cards being dealt in face up manner.
 21. The method asrecited in claim 1 which is an electronic card game wherein, in the step(b), said deck of cards are configured in an electronic form that saidcards are dealt to be electronically displayed on a display via aprocessor.
 22. The method as recited in claim 7 which is an electroniccard game wherein, in the step (b), said deck of cards are configured inan electronic form that said cards are dealt to be electronicallydisplayed on a display via a processor.
 23. The method as recited inclaim 20 which is an electronic card game wherein, in the step (b), saiddeck of cards are configured in an electronic form that said cards aredealt to be electronically displayed on a display via a processor.